Synthesis and Structural and Electrical Characteristics of Polypyrrole Nanotube/TiO₂ Hybrid Composites

Abstract

Hybrid composites of conducting polypyrrole nanotubes with TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized in the presence of β-naphthalenesulfonic acid by chemical oxidative polymerization. The morphology, structure, and electrical properties were investigated by several experimental techniques. The results indicated that the structural and electrical properties of the composites were influenced by the content of TiO2 nanoparticles. The DC conductivity of the composites increased by one order of magnitude when the concentration of TiO2 was 0.1 M compared with pure PPy nanotubes. AC conductivity of the composites showed the similar trend with the TiO2 content and obeyed the power law index in the 101–107 Hz range. The electrorheological properties of the composite under steady and oscillatory shear were also evaluated.